Silvery, velvet-haired foliage and a scatter of small yellow flowers all summer mark out absinthe, or wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), the bitter perennial that gave its name to the famous liquor. In the vegetable patch it earns its keep as a repellent and a medicinal herb: give it full sun and light, free-draining soil and it thrives.
| Name | Artemisia absinthium |
|---|---|
| Family | Asteraceae |
| Type | semi-evergreen perennial |
| Height | 16 inches to 5 feet (40 to 150 cm) |
| Exposure | full sun |
| Soil | rich and light |
| Harvest | late spring to mid-autumn |
Nonetheless, it is a spice herb, has many medicinal properties, and is a great repellent in the vegetable patch.
Absinthe helps fight against aphids, carrot fly, large white and flea beetle.
Absinthe likes it when:
If you purchase your absinthe in pots, plan to re-pot it quickly in a larger pot or transplant it directly in the ground after buying, lest your plant grow stunted.
It grows quickly in pots, too, though needs frequent fertilizing.
Absinthe can be sown directly in the soil all spring and summer long.
As soon as the plants have formed 4 or 5 leaves, you can thin to about 8 inches (20 cm) to give the seedlings space to grow.
It is very easy to multiply absinthe by dividing old clumps.
Absinthe can be raised from seed, bought as a young plant, or split off an established clump. The three routes differ mostly in when you can begin and how long you wait for a usable plant.
| Method | When | How | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct sowing | Early spring to late summer | Seeds ½ to 1 inch (1 to 2 cm) deep, rows 8 inches (20 cm) apart, thin to 8 inches | Sprouting takes up to 2 weeks; plants mature about 2 months after sowing |
| Planting a pot-bought plant | As soon as you bring it home | Re-pot into a larger pot or transplant directly in the ground | Grows fast, but pots need frequent feeding and generous watering the first year |
| Dividing old clumps | Spring, about every three years | Separate the older stems and transplant immediately | Very easy; water in well for quick settling and a regenerated plant |
Whichever route you take, generous watering at the start is what decides how quickly the plant settles in.
Leaves and flowers can be cut as needs arise until the first frost spells.
It is best to snip the stems off one at a time whenever you need some, instead of tearing out a whole bunch.
Harvest on a dry morning, once the dew has lifted but before full sun.
Because wormwood’s leaves are alternate rather than paired, cut each stem just above a single leaf or visible bud, so new shoots break from that node instead of leaving a bare stub.
A common rule of thumb for perennial herbs is to cut no more than about a third of a clump at once and harvest sparingly in the first year, letting roots establish.
Do not scatter fresh absinthe trimmings around seedlings, as the plant releases substances that hold back neighbouring growth; put them in the fermented tea bucket instead.
In fall, in order to keep your absinthe for the longest possible span of time, cut it short and keep in frozen in a jar, with the stems and leaves whole.
It’s also possible to dry the leaves in a dry place where the air circulates well, crush the leaves and store them in an airtight jar.
Hang the cut stems in small, loose bundles with the heads pointing down, so air reaches the middle of each bunch and the leaves do not go mouldy.
Dry absinthe in the dark: light bleaches the silvery leaves and dulls their aroma.
The leaves are dry enough to crush when they crumble at a touch and the stems snap instead of bending.
Strip the leaves from the woodiest stems before crushing them, since those stems add bulk to the jar but almost no bitterness or scent.
Absinthe is a herbaceous perennial plant that can grow up to 3 feet (1 meter) tall and that is famous for having given its name to a famous alcohol.
Covered with silvery velvety hairs, it bears cute little yellow flowers all summer long.
Garden use is common for the positive impact it has on growth of other plants, and also because it is a repellent against certain parasites. For that, it can either be prepared as a fermented tea or simply planted in the middle of the vegetable patch.
Absinthe also has medicinal properties and health benefits for the body. It was often used to treat stomach disorders, to fight drowsiness, and also to limit the effect of travel sickness and nausea.
First, you must have dried the flowers in the shade. For maximum potency, collect leaves at the peak of the blooming season.
Learn more about herbs and spices:
Herbs and spices, all you need to know about growing them
Drinking the infusion shortly before a meal is the traditional way to use it, as the bitterness is what stimulates appetite and digestion.
Absinthe contains thujone, so keep courses short and avoid it entirely if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
To regenerate your absinthe, perform crown division in spring every three years, if you can.
Absinthe has repellent properties against dog fleas, especially outside the blooming season. A smart tip is to stash a few absinthe leaves in the dog’s basket to serve as a flea repellent.
